“I’d want my mom to do the same.”
Advertisement
The crowd was silent. The faces from the photos sat frozen at their tables, exposed for what they’d done.
Rosie cried. Not the crying I’d grown used to hiding from. This was different.
“Mom,” she whispered, finding me in the crowd. “He saw me.”
I walked to Steven, my legs shaking.
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I thought you were going to hurt her. I should have known better.”
“You’re her mom,” he replied. “You were doing your job. I’d want my mom to do the same.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For seeing her.”
He shook his head. “She made it easy.”
For so long I had only known how to spot the people who might hurt my girl.
Advertisement
The DJ started the music again. Steven held out his hand to Rosie.
“May I have this dance? For real this time?”